Tag Archives: Summer 2010 Catalog

Recipe: Stir-Fry Green Beans and Carrots

Posted on September 7, 2010 by stevetallent

Stir-Fry Green Beans and Carrots
Makes 6 servings

1 lb. green beans
1 lb. carrots batoneed

1 med. onion, sliced
1 lb. sliced white or brown mushrooms
1 c. walnut, roughly chopped
1/4 c. fermented soy sauce
1/4 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. coconut milk
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 Tbsp. ginger, finely minced
1/4 lb. bacon, crumbled
1 tsp. red Thai curry paste
1/2 tsp. cayenne
Salt
Pepper

Parboil carrots. Parboil green beans. Fry bacon, crumble and set aside. Add 4 Tbsp. coconut oil to bacon fat. Add and saute onions for 3 – 4 minutes. Add ginger and garlic to pan. Toss in walnuts, cook until crispy. Add soy sauce and coconut milk. Bring to boil and stir until thickened. Toss in bacon. Set sauce aside and keep hot. Add rest of coconut oil to pan. Add mushroom and cook for 5 minutes or until almost done. Saute green beans and carrots just until a slight crunch remains. Add onions and heat through. Pour sauce over vegetables and serve with rice.

Notes:

Green beans are acidic so when parboiling, boil the carrots first so that the flavor of the beans won’t taint the flavor of the carrots.

Most green vegetables have a high acidic concentrate; when boiling or steaming, leave uncovered so the acid is removed with the steam. If covered, the acid falls back onto the vegetable making it bitter and giving it a brownish color!

Optional Alternative Ingredients

Vegetables: broccoli, peppers(sweet bell, hot), baby corn, squash, snap peas, lima beans, black beans, shallots, green onions, unsweetened coconut chips or flakes, bamboo shoots, mandarin oranges, pineapple, raisins, Craisins, cherries

Meats: pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, clams, oysters

Nuts, Seeds, Grains: pecans, walnuts, almonds (whole or sliced), macadamia, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, rice noodles

Unglazing the pan: rice vinegar, wine (red, white, or sherry) stock (same as the meat or vegetable)

Fats and Oils: olive, lard, clarified butter, red palm

Thickening Agents: arrowroot, cornstarch, flour, cream, egg yolk

Spices and Flavorings: hoisin sauce, duck sauce, fish sauce, crushed red pepper, smoked sea salt, roasted garlic

Bulk Herbs & Whole Foods

Recipe: Meatloaf

Posted on September 7, 2010 by stevetallent

As presented in our Summer 2010 Catalog

Meatloaf serves about 10-6 oz servings

2 1/2 – 3 lbs. meat, ground
2 c. bread crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk or cream
1/2 c. carrots
1/2 c. celery
1 c. onions
3/4 – 1 c. ketchup
5 Tbs. butter
salt
pepper
crushed red pepper
garlic, fresh or dry
cayenne

Dice carrots, celery and onion. Combine milk, ketchup and eggs. Add bread crumbs to milk mixture and let soak. Melt butter in hot pan and saute vegetables until soft and the aromas blend. If using fresh garlic, add now and saute until soft. Add salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and cayenne. Mix bread crumbs and veggies together. Hand mix in meat. Form meat into a log. Place meat log in 9×13 Pyrex and cover top with ketchup or steak sauce. Season the top. Add about 1/4 cup water to dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Slice and serve with ketchup.

Note: You can shape the meat into balls and put in muffin tins for individual servings.

Bulk Herbs & Whole Foods

Recipe: Cold Oatmeal

Posted on September 7, 2010 by stevetallent Leave a comment

As appeared in our Summer 2010 Catalog.

5 c uncooked quick oats
1 green apple, shredded
1 red apple, shredded
1 c grapes, chopped
¾ c walnuts, chopped
½ c honey
3 c whole milk to start (then add to desired consistency)
1 t cinnamon

Bulk Herbs & Whole Foods

Rooting Out Dental Problems – Summer 2010 Catalog

Posted on September 7, 2010 by stevetallent

Nancy Webster

Part 1 of this 2-part series (“The Tooth of the Matter”) appeared in the Winter 2010

Beeyoutiful Catalog and emphasized the importance of nutrition in dental health.

“Your old filling cracked, and new decay is under it,” the dentist informed me matter-of-factly. “I have time to fix it right now.”

Five minutes later, with numbing shot in effect, he casually drilled out an aging silver amalgam filling from the back molar which had been bothering me for awhile. Over the sound of the drill, I heard him tell the hygienist, “It’s very close to the pulp. If this doesn’t work, she’ll need a root canal.”

A few weeks later, my tooth still hurt, and it was slowly getting worse. By then, my research gene had kicked into high gear. I knew Weston A. Price, the dentist whose educational foundation teaches the dietary principles of nutrient-dense and properly-prepared foods, had lost a son to a root canal gone bad.

Dr. Price’s information led me to other dental experts who similarly warned about the dangers of root canals. All concluded that the only safe way to handle a dead tooth is removal. Apparently, there is no way to sterilize all side chambers of the three miles of tubules inside a tooth. Antibiotics can’t do it. Bleach can’t do it. Even lasers can’t assure adequate cleansing. In one of Dr. Prices’ experiments, he implanted into 100 rabbits the root canal fragments from a person who had suffered a heart attack, and within a few weeks, every rabbit also experienced cardiac arrest!

Modern DNA research offers additional evidence against this common dental procedure by demonstrating bacterial contamination in 100% of the tested samples of extracted root canals. Bacteria that remain after a root canal mutate once circulation through the tooth (by removal of the pulp) is cut off, and the resulting strain is many times more toxic than otherwise. These bacteria can migrate into gum tissue and from there into the rest of the body, causing autoimmune or life-threatening degenerative diseases, even decades after a root canal is performed.

Pulling for a Better Solution

My smile finally looked decent after two stints with braces, so I was not anxious to introduce a gap by having a tooth pulled. But I didn’t want to have long-term health problems, either.

Hoping for a prettier option, I called several endodontists (root canal specialists) to find out how they sterilized the tooth after removing the dead pulp. They all told me I was misled by an old theory and that thousands of root canals are performed safely every day (60 million per year is the current count). I wanted to believe them, but I didn’t feel peace about it. Meanwhile, my tooth was turning dark.

While many dentists advertise their work as “mercury-free,” their emphasis on dental cosmetics made me worry their worldview was not as radical as mine—especially when a few calls confirmed that they recommend root canals. That’s when I stumbled upon www.drwolfe.com/links.html, a collection of websites for holistic dental associations and member practitioners. On this score, I also wished we lived in California again rather than Tennessee, since the Golden State seems to have holistic dentists in every city. Our closest one, Dr. Ada Frazier, is an hour and half away in Alabama, but my long-term well-being and her services were worth the drive.

Dr. Frazier was trained by Dr. Hal Huggins, a long-time outspoken opponent of mercury amalgams and root canals and author of a newly published article titled “Root Canal Dangers: DNA Studies Confirm Dr. Weston Price’s Century-Old Findings.” You can read it online at www.WestonAPrice.org.

Even though “any dentist” can pull a tooth, by going to Dr. Frazier, I was assured of not only avoiding pressure to have a root canal, but I was also confident the tooth extraction would include an important, if non-traditional, procedure called a cavitation. Cavitation involves grinding off the periodontal ligament which holds the tooth in its socket. Although most dentists and endodontists are taught to leave the ligament in place after an extraction, the remnant tissue provides an incubator for hostile bacteria. This bacteria can produce the same damage to the cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, and immune systems as those from a root canal. Dr. Huggins compares omitting this procedure to “delivering a baby and leaving the placenta in the uterus.”

After the deed was done, Dr. Frazier instructed me to swish gently with peroxide and saltwater and to supplement with vitamin C to prevent infection. Fortunately, the hole does not show when I smile, but if the gap were obvious, instead of a tooth implant—which also contains harmful metals—I would consider getting a bridge made from biocompatible materials.

The More, the Mercurier

Neither my visits to the holistic dentist nor my education about the benefits of going to one had yet run their course. I had a few other leaky fillings with decay underneath. Although this news worried our bank account, it excited me, because now I had an excuse to switch out a few of those “silver” (mercury-based) fillings.

A wall in Dr. Frazier’s office displays a poster delineating the body-wide negative effects of mercury—the substance delivered to dental offices, packaged as “hazardous material” and then daily put into thousands of trusting patients’ mouths. Filling material is amalgamized (mixed) either in a combination of 50% mercury and 35% silver plus a bit of tin and copper or as a “copper amalgam” of 66% mercury and 33% copper.

Copper amalgams are highly unstable, releasing fifty times more mercury into the body than even the older combination. Hardly a coincidence, when copper amalgams were first introduced in 1975, the incidence of Lou Gehrig’s Disease and multiple sclerosis jumped dramatically the first year and has grown exponentially since.

Friction from chewing and brushing and heat from hot liquids and foods cause these mercury-based fillings to release harmful vapors, which spread throughout the body via the respiratory system, accumulating mostly in the brain, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. There they destroy good bacteria and encourage Candida growth.

The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology provides a disturbing YouTube video showing the vapors emitted by these fillings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylnQ-T7oiA&feature=related.

Scientists report degenerative changes in the brain within a few days after exposure to mercury vapors. Severe headaches, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, depression, hair loss, memory loss, and even coma can be caused by mercury toxicity. A fascinating bit of history illustrates the point. In the 1800s, hat makers working in poorly ventilated shops breathed in fumes from a mercury solution used to turn fur into felt and became known for their mental and emotional instability. That’s where the saying “mad as a hatter” originated.

Mercury binds to sulfur-containing enzymes, suffocating cells and causing chronic allergic and immune reactions. Kidney and lung damage shows up within months of exposure.

Then there is the phenomenon of “dental galvanism.” When two or more dissimilar metals are used to restore or replace missing teeth, they produce an electric current. This electrification causes the rate of mercury corrosion to increase 10 to 20 times. Many people—including those with metal fillings—worry about the mercury content of nutrient-rich ocean fish, but to put this in perspective: Every day, their fillings give off up to nine times the mercury they might ingest from eating fish!

Detach and De-Tox

Dr. Frazier explained to me the safety protocol for amalgam removal as she and her assistant donned gas masks, protective eyewear, and hair caps. The highest mercury content fillings go first, and when several fillings need to be replaced, removal should take place over several visits so as not to overwhelm the body’s detoxing system.

A special rubber “dam” was placed in my mouth to prevent particles from going down my throat during the procedure. I also wore protective eyewear and was cautioned to breath only through the oxygen mask over my nose. A venting tube much like a clothes dryer hose was drawn close to my mouth while air ionizers whirred nearby. The hygenist maintained a continuous stream of cool water to lessen the vapor-releasing heat of drilling friction, while she held a small vacuum right at the tooth site.

After the procedure, Dr. Frazier encouraged me to drink lots of water, to take extra vitamin C, and to do toxin-removing “oil pulling”—swishing sesame, sunflower, or coconut oil in the mouth for 15 minutes and spitting it out. Dr. Frazier and her assistant, who encounter mercury daily, de-tox themselves routinely, including spending time in a far-infrared sauna. This is a far cry from the casual way the first dentist removed my old filling. No wonder infertility and other health problems are worse for dental hygenists!

If you suspect symptoms of heavy metal toxicity or even after a cleaning or any dental work, you can do a lot of chelation (pronounced “kee-lay-shun”) on your own. Chelation uses natural substances to attract heavy metal particles and pull them out of the body. Beeyoutiful offers an array of excellent supplements that can help:

• Pure Chlorella

• Odorless Garlic

• Selenium Secure

• Rosehip C and Gentle C

In the process, be sure to drink lots of pure water and keep your bowels empty, because a majority of the toxins are eliminated in the bathroom.

Following a nutrient-dense, properly prepared diet as described in the Nourishing Traditions cookbook and taking healthy supplements will help prevent problems in the first place, as we discussed in part 1 of this series. If you still have health issues, though, the idea of removing fillings can be emotionally and financially daunting. To help reduce the financial pain, you might consider saving up to have one filling done at a time (it’s healthier this way, too). And put yourself on a chelation regime.

If you ask most traditional dentists about root canal and mercury concerns, they will scowl and say something about contrarian “quacks.” Taking action, though, is important because the vapor cloud from mercury fillings has no silver lining.

Nancy Webster is a freelance writer and homeschool mother of eight. After enduring multiple tooth extractions, two sets of braces, and a dozen fillings through the years, she is a highly motivated researcher on alternative dental practices. Nancy is also the founder and facilitator of the Southern Middle Tennessee chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

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The Fantastic Five – Summer 2010 Catalog

Posted on September 7, 2010 by stevetallent Leave a comment

The Fantastic Five

Beeyoutiful’s Super Heroes

by Marissa Greentree

If Beeyoutiful were a movie, there would be five featured players who would get rave reviews from me. They’re all stars of my medicine cabinet, and I’d like you to know what makes them so special.

SuperMom

SuperMom was the very first Beeyoutiful product I had the pleasure of meeting. I introduced myself as a single mom of a one year-old, and the two of us became fast friends. SuperMom and I have met every morning at breakfast for months and our relationship has been a genuine blessing.

My life before SuperMom was plagued with every-other-day migraines due to the insurmountable stress of my world. In the middle of a divorce from an abusive husband and hiding with my little one fearing for our safety, I was also jobless for nearly six months and on every form of welfare imaginable. Isolation and a lack of trustworthy friendships added to my increasing anxiety.

Lack of energy immobilized and debilitated me, an especially acute problem since daily survival required exceptional amounts of energy. Being a single mom to an infant was no picnic. Sleepless nights due to teething or illness, doctor appointments, learning to feed a child with food sensitivities, discipline, and meeting my son’s emotional needs drained my emotions and my body.

I was desperate for relief. I’d taken other supplements in the past, but nothing had really helped. My migraine medication was becoming a live-in nuisance instead of a distant acquaintance. I wanted the meds to move out and a real life to move back in.

That’s when SuperMom showed up—just in time. Now she is a regular daily benefactor of increased energy, decreased migraines and overall happiness in my home. Migraine meds visit only when extreme stress or mounting anxiety necessitates a short-term boost. SuperMom helped me get my life back! My divorce is now final and my friend-pool is growing. I’m still a single mom but now I have the energy to be, well, a super mom! Any minor headaches I continue to have are combated with my next Beeyoutiful favorite.

Tension Tamer

A bottle in my cabinet and a bottle in my purse…check! I don’t go anywhere without Tension Tamer. This tiny roll-on stick of essential oils has been with me through thick and thin over the last couple of months.

Whenever I feel a headache coming on or feel my neck muscles tightening due stress, I whip out Tension Tamer and let the aroma settle me back into relaxation. The cooling effect on my neck, shoulders, temples and behind my ears is truly wonderful. Supplemented with a few deep breaths, Tension Tamer helps my entire body slow down so I can think clearly and allow my body to heal itself.

Tension Tamer has gone with me into important meetings and helped me keep my cool. It’s been by my side during confrontation and assisted me in remaining calm. It’s given my body just enough “tension taming” to allow my mind to clear before bed so I have a rejuvenating and restful night’s sleep.

What’s more, I’ve been thrilled at how little I have to use to get the results I want. Tension Tamer isn’t expensive at all when I take into account how long one small bottle lasts. And unlike some treatments, the smell doesn’t make me sick, because there are no added fragrances which I’m allergic to. I can use it as much as I need to without worrying if I’m going to add to my headache or help it.

Whether I’m at home or out-and-about, I know I can count on Tension Tamer to help relieve my headaches and muscle tightness in a pinch. I never leave home without it!

Berry Well

The first time I tried Berry Well, I was having an allergic reaction to a feather down comforter. Within minutes after gulping down two tablespoons, my allergy attack stopped! I was in shock. I didn’t have to grab Claritin or an inhaler or eye drops. I knew from that moment on, my cabinet would never again be without Berry Well.

Since that time, I’ve used Berry Well to help fight colds, drainage, runny noses and coughs by giving my immune system the boost it was begging for. And I don’t have any adverse side effects with Berry Well like I would with over-the-counter allergy medications. Normally, cold and allergy meds knock me out or make me hyper, drain my body of energy and leave me feeling worse than before. Berry Well helps me almost instantly and I find I can manage my normal daily activities.

Laveshmint Toner

I love starting my day with Laveshmint Hydrating Toner. When I get out of the shower and feel the mist of this cool, refreshing spray, I can face the day with confidence.

My skin is so sensitive that most products (I’ve tried them all!) make my skin break out, but Laveshmint Hydrating Toner actually makes my skin feel refreshed with no irritation. It’s great to find a product that works with my skin instead of against it.

The scent is amazing as well. It’s just strong enough to provide a hint of lavender but soft enough not to be overwhelming. What a great addition to my daily routine!

Lavender Essential Oil

Essential oils are a new addition to my life and I’m in love! Why did I not know about essential oils before now? I now use them for many things—cleaning, fighting insects, aches, stress, as a sleep-aid and for relaxation. The aroma freshens my home, calms me and my son and goes a long ways towards helping my body take care of itself.

Essential oils in general can be used in a remarkable variety of ways but Lavender Essential Oil is, so far, my favorite. What a diverse oil! I’ve loved its scent and have used it for years but I never knew it could be used for more than just the smell.

I was amazed and thrilled to discover it helps with headaches, sunburns and high blood pressure. I was taken off my high blood pressure medication due to, I believe, a great combination of the Beeyoutiful products I’d been taking. I much prefer the scent and safety of Lavender Essential Oil to battle bugs than any poisonous sprays. It’s also a wonderful oil to add to my wet candle wax in order to infuse my home with the thrilling aroma of lavender.

These five Beeyoutiful stars are fantastic. And unlike some things in movies, you really should try them at home!

Marissa Greentree is a freelance writer who contributes regularly to Beeyoutiful catalogs. She’s mom to a 19 month-old boy and, a survivor of domestic violence, she now advocates for others in similar circumstances. Her hobbies include singing, song-writing, interior decorating, scrapbooking and card-making.

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Letter from Steph – Summer 2010 Catalog

Posted on September 7, 2010 by stevetallent Leave a comment

Hello!

I feel as though our world has been turned upside down, shaken around, and plopped back upright since I wrote the letter for our Spring 2010 Catalog. I still feel a bit dizzy from the rapid sequence of events in our already eventful lives.

A few weeks after our Spring catalog went to press, my wonderful man left for a two week mission trip to Malawi. (For those of you who draw a blank when trying to figure out which continent Malawi belongs to, I’ll tell you so you can stop wondering.Malawi is located in Central Africa.)Bidding him good-bye was hard. Since we’ve been married, Steve and I have never been apart for more than a week. We’ve gotten used to the luxury of living and working together day in and day out. (Allow me to insert here that my respect and admiration for you military wives whose husbands are away for extended periods of time has reached new levels! God bless you and your families for the sacrifices you make.)

Before he left, Steve went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure everything was in good working order in the business and in our personal lives. Yet my main concern was for him. I’ll confess to having more than a few moments of anxiety over his safety. After all, Africa is very far away and offers some of the world’s scariest diseases, most dangerous animals, rugged terrain, and less-than-stable political climates. If anybody had told me we would end up having more adventures here in Tennessee than he did in Africa I would have laughed! But the joke would have been on me.

A few days after Steve left, I woke with a start one morning to the pale face of our basement tenant looking down at me. “The basement is flooding!” she said, and I bolted out of bed. For the next two days, friends and family helped battle the water pouring into our basement. Although I realized it had been raining—a lot!—I had no clue what a tsunami had poured from the sky on Tennessee’s corner of the world.

We worked night and day to keep the water low enough so it wouldn’t ruin sheetrock or mess with electrical wiring. Around day two, the blinders that had me so focused on my own water problems were blown away by the arrival of my soaking wet mother-in-law. She had been rescued from rising waters in her yard by caring neighbors who got her out before the water could trap her inside her house. It finally dawned on me that we were dealing with an actual flood (although I still didn’t appreciate the stunning proportions of the situation), not just a problem with our particular basement. One moral of this story could be that if your basement floods, it might be a good idea to check the news to find out if the rest of your area is having water problems as well!

As hours turned into days, our home ended up looking like a refugee camp. We had seven adults and our Noelle girl stranded at our house by floodwaters. My courageous brother, John, and his dually truck saved the day innumerable times, plowing through rising waters to obtain necessities.

One wet night in the basement, bailing water gave us something to do while we hid from tornadoes that also blasted our area during the flood. In an ironic twist, Noelle stayed dry in the bathtub, where she slept in a nest of pillows while the rest of us made do, propped on couches and waking periodically to do water patrol. The power went off that night and stayed off for five days and nights.

Then, once the rain stopped, the real flooding began as the run-off dumped into streams and rivers, raising them above the 500-year flood levels in many areas. Still, we made it to a local store and stocked up on necessities like candles, easy-to-prepare junk food (emergency rations, right?), and bottled water. Our city’s drinking water was contaminated for weeks since both the power plant and water purification plant were under water.

Although the laminate flooring in our basement was ruined, we count ourselves among the fortunate.In nearby Nashville, 44,000 homes were destroyed, and within just a mile or two of our house, many homes were 100 percent ruined by floodwaters. Roads washed away. And countless properties, fences, shops, and barns were decimated.

Living through a disaster big enough to earn the FEMA stamp of approval has been amazing. I’m incredibly grateful for the spirit of people in this part of Tennessee. Whereas many natural disasters are made worse by the horror stories of chaos, pillaging, gang rule, and out of control violence, nothing of the kind happened here. Neighbors helped neighbors. People risked their property and, in some instances, their own safety to save or aid others.

Selfless giving of time, resources, energy, and care was the rule of the day. Neighbors rotated the use of one generator a few hours at a time so all their food could be saved. Another drove his truck through deep water to help stranded friends. Someone else risked flooded roads to help stop water from pouring into the home of an elderly couple. A man brought extra ice to his neighbors just in case they could use it to save their refrigerated food. A lady with a flood-damaged home offered clothes to anyone who was worse off and lost everything. Two men whose own homes were under water offered to drive down a flooded road to find the missing grandmother of strangers.

And you: I want to thank customers who ordered during this trauma for your patience. We couldn’t ship orders in the timely manner that is always our goal because the main highway to our shipping facility developed a rather drastic pot-hole (more like a Grand Canyon wanna-be). As you can see in the photo on the _______, it could have swallowed two large trucks whole. Road crews repaired a less extensively damaged alternate route within a couple of days and our local staff gratefully made their way to work—where there was internet service, hot running water, and electricity. (Oh, those seemingly small things we are tempted to take for granted!)

To say we welcomed Steve’s return is an understatement as big as the flood itself. Noelle and I engulfed him and didn’t let go for most of the day. By contrast to our time in the wild world of Tennessee, he had a safe and comparatively laid back couple of weeks in Africa. One of the highlights for him was looking out the window of his hut to see an elephant munching about eight feet from his window.

Life here has been slowly returning to normal. More roads are being repaired so we can use regular routes again. But driving by condemned and abandoned homes is a stark reminder of how many people lost everything. Most did not have flood insurance (no one will insure against floods that “can’t happen”) and are dependent upon family and friends to rebuild their lives. Please pray for their long-term healing and recovery and that the still-acute needs of many will be met.

We’re thankful our shipping facility and products sustained no damage. And we’re especially grateful our friends and family members survived this disaster. We’re likewise thankful for customers and friends who have been so kind and caring through this entire experience.

And finally: A warm-weather catalog letter just wouldn’t be complete without an update on my garden. I’m thrilled to report that my early garden miraculously did not wash away in the flood. Those little plants must have dug their roots in and hung on tight because they all survived—every single one! An explosion of growth has resulted from the rain, and it looks like we just might have the best summer garden ever. Very thankful for that as well.

Enjoy your family this summer. Have fun in the sun and take advantage of as much natural, free vitamin D as you can! If you get a little over-toasted in the quest for D, remember that Miracle Salve and HairShine are sunburn healers. Spritz with HairShine, allow its cooling effect to begin, and then slather with Miracle Salve. After the Miracle has absorbed, spritz again liberally with HairShine. Continue alternating the two until the burn heals. Although we marshmallow people have suffered some pretty severe sunburns around here, peeling is a thing of the past and discomfort disappears almost immediately when we use these two products together.

Thank you for being part of our Beeyoutiful family!

Grace and Peace,

–Steph (Walker) Tallent

steph@beeyoutiful.com

Health

Spice Up Your Recipes, Perk Up Your Health – Summer 2010 Catalog

Posted on September 6, 2010 by stevetallent Leave a comment

Spice Up Your Recipes, Perk Up Your Health

The Two Faces of Rosemary

by Mary Ewing

I once made a horrible false accusation. When I was fourteen, I blamed my migraine headaches on an innocent herb. At a resort I visited in California with my family, sweet-scented Rosemary plants grew everywhere and hotel chefs seasoned many house specialties with the tantalizing flavor. While there, I experienced the first migraine headache of my life and accused Rosemary of causing it. For fifteen years, I held a grudge-until I learned the delectable truth.

True Love from False Hate

At a church small group dinner one night, I was enthralled with one particular potluck dish. I raved to the young lady who had made it that I could eat her meal every day and never tire of it. She winked as she told me her secret ingredient was Rosemary-and I nearly melted onto the floor, fearing the onset of a migraine. When no headache attacked, I absolved Rosemary of my misconception and welcomed the spice back into my life!

Once I opened my mind to the truth about Rosemary, I not only looked up every culinary use I could find, but I also started reading about the plant itself and the various ways to use Rosemary in day to day life-especially Rosemary Essential Oil. The first night I discovered the oil, I stayed up four hours past my bedtime because I just could not stop reading. I was fascinated at the vast benefits attributed to this divine-tasting herb.

Now there’s nothing much more comforting to my tummy than potatoes au gratin with Rosemary tucked between the layers of potatoes and cheese. Actually, Rosemary in just about any stew or stock is such a delightful earthy addition, that I will not turn it down. And thanks to Beeyoutiful, there is now another wonderful form through which to indulge in the splendors of Rosemary. Rosemary Essential Oil not only captures the cozy, warm feelings that I get when eating my favorite potatoes, it also harnesses the power of the versatile Rosemary plant, putting it in an easy-to-use form. Let me tell you why it’s a must for all households.

How Does It Work?

The Rosemary plant has many different components that combine to produce its basic anti-inflammatory and tonic functions. It strengthens tissues in the body to help them perform normally, and it offers antiseptic and stimulant properties.

A powerful antioxidant, Rosmarinic acid is one of the primary components in the oil. Antioxidants scour your body, finding free radicals (molecules in the body that have lost an important electron). These free radicals are highly unstable and must find a molecular victim from which to “steal” an electron. Retrieving the electron damages the healthy cells in the body but antioxidants bind with free radicals, neutralizing them and eliminating the threat they pose to your healthy cells. The presence of Rosmarinic acid has been said to decrease the risk of cancer, slow the affects of aging, and reduce inflammation in the body.

Another key component in Rosemary is diosmetin. Diosmetin is flavone, also an antioxidant. It is known to help strengthen capillaries as well as other parts of the cardiovascular system and has been reported to increase circulation and possibly increase low blood pressure. Diosmetin seems to target the head and blood vessels that lead to the head. As a result, it is recommended for helping to increase circulation in the brain and surrounding areas. This can have the effect of enhancing memory, decreasing depression, elevating moods, and reducing headaches.

Rosmaricine is the analgesic part of the Rosemary plant. From sore muscles to throbbing headaches to sprains, this powerful ingredient may bring quick relief and, coupled with the increased circulation, it can help in the healing of injuries.

How Do I Use Rosemary?

My research about Rosemary suggests that it can be used for just about everything from antibacterial agent to sore muscle analgesic to headache-reliever to respiratory health-improver to anxiety-reducer to digestive aid. When I received my first order of my new favorite oil, I used it for a horrible sinus infection coupled with lung congestion. I had read that the anti-inflammatory properties can help open inflamed nasal passages and decrease congestion. Also, the antiseptic properties can help the immune system fight off the offending virus or bacteria. So I pulled out my bottle and started mixing (this used to scare my husband, but now he likes the results and no longer trembles at another one of my concoctions).

First, I got my oil-mixing bowl (the rule here is: always use glass, never plastic). I use a small Pyrex bowl that I found at the thrift store but any small mason jar, glass or ceramic bowl, or similar container will work. I prefer a designated container for mixing, in order to avoid accidentally consuming the full strength oils if I were to confuse the containers.

Next, I decided on my recipe and gathered my oils. For a respiratory formula, I used Rosemary Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Clary Sage Essential Oil, Eucalyptus and Lemon Essential Oils. I used 10 to 15 drops of each in the bowl. I mixed well to combine all the oils. Then I transferred this mixture into a dark glass jar and labeled it accordingly. It smelled heavenly and I was able to breathe very soon after first inhaling it.

I used my mixture in three ways. First, I diffused it in the room at twenty minute intervals throughout the day. Second, I mixed several drops of it with about a teaspoon of Sweet Almond Oil and rubbed it on my feet, chest, and shoulders. Third, I added about ten drops to a warm bath (this not only helped me breathe, but it also helped relax my sore muscles).

The results? You may be surprised to have me tell you I was disappointed. But it was only because my expectations were wrong. I didn’t understand the wonderful way this Rosemary treatment was meant to work.

I had some fantastic immediate relief from symptoms but, overall, I felt as sick as ever. I was hoping it would knock the opponent I was fighting from here to last Sunday, but it didn’t. Or so I thought. Slowly, I realized what was happening to me. Typically, my colds last a week to ten days with a sore throat at the onset progressing to a runny nose and then a battle of congestion. This time, I had the sore throat and the faucet nose and felt horrible. I was terribly discouraged-until about 36 hours after my Rosemary-based treatment when I woke up completely and utterly well. No congestion, no sore throat, no overall misery. I had been sick for less than three days, rather than the week it usually takes to recover. I was amazed and by the end of the day, I was outside mixing heavy bags of manure, peat moss, and vermiculite for our garden without a single sneeze, sniffle, or sign of a cold. I was convinced!

More Ways to Keep Rosemary Busy

I was even more in love with my new bottle of Rosemary Essential Oil than ever! I could not wait to use it on other ailments. I combined several drops with Jojoba Oil and rubbed it into my shoulders after gardening. The massage oil not only felt great, but it smelled good, too.

In addition to the pain relief for the sore shoulders and the increased blood flow to the brain, it is also said to help relax the user by reducing anxiety and eliminating insomnia. It’s a great before-bedtime massage oil. My youngest, Maggie, loves the smell as much as I do. She begs me to get the bottle out just so she can smell it. I massage her feet and back with it when she is restless. (Note: Never use the oil full strength on your skin, and always test for sensitivity, especially on a child.)

For those of you that suffer from headaches, be sure and keep your bottle close by your side. Dabbing a few drops on your temples can help eliminate the pain immediately. Remember that the oil should never go near your eyes and you should always dilute it with a carrier oil prior to use.

On a dull day, whether due to a cloudy day or a blue temperament, combine several drops of Rosemary Essential Oil with Lemon Essential Oil for a pick me up! You can combine it with a carrier oil and rub it on your wrists, shoulders, temples, and behind your ears. The pleasant aroma doubles as a delightful perfume. Or add it to your infuser for a household mood makeover.

Having Beeyoutiful’s Rosemary Essential Oil has made it so convenient to use in my daily life that I, literally, do not leave home without it. I use an old cloth glasses case inherited from a great grandmother to carry the Rosemary bottle in my purse, ready to pull out if I or any of my friends has need. It also pairs well with many of the other oils that Beeyouitful carries. Obviously, I no longer have any angst about using this wonderful herb. I appreciate the beauty of both faces of my friend, Rosemary.

Cranberry Power Cleanse – Summer 2010 Catalog

Posted on September 6, 2010 by stevetallent

Cranberry Power Cleanse

By Christy Stouffer

If you’ve experienced it before, you know you don’t want to experience it again! A UTI (urinary tract infection) often comes on suddenly and brings with it a set of miserable symptoms: a burning sensation during urination, lower back and abdominal pain, and frequent urination that yields small amounts. When bacteria in the urinary tract take up residence, an infection is often right around the corner.

One woman in five will develop a UTI in her lifetime and nearly 20% of those will become chronic sufferers. UTIs occur in men, although less frequently than in women. If you suffer from UTIs, you know the anguish they produce. These infections disrupt life and cost in visits to the doctor and pharmacy.

Traditional medicine uses antibiotics to treat these urinary tract infections. While they are generally effective, there are concerns with the use of them. Antibiotics can have side effects (yeast overgrowth, upset digestive tract, and allergic reactions) and can also promote a resistance to bacteria if used frequently. Chronic UTI sufferers are often put on low doses of antibiotics for prevention, but this course of treatment puts a person’s system at risk for the side effects listed above. Eventually, the bacteria will become resistant to the antibiotic and a new drug will be needed.

UTIs are most commonly caused by E. coli. Although E. coli is a needed bacteria that resides in our large intestines and serves as an aid in digestion, when E. coli bacteria enter the urinary tract, they attach themselves to the lining of the bladder. After taking up residence in the bladder, they multiply, colonize, and develop into an infection. If left untreated the bacteria travel to the kidneys and result in more infection.

A healthy immune system can often fight off the bacteria before an infection occurs. You can strengthen your body by getting proper rest, drinking plenty of water, boosting your intake of Vitamin C (creating an acidic environment that discourages the growth of bacteria), and consuming low amounts of processed foods and sugar. But sometimes our immune systems are compromised or the strength and speed at which the E. coli builds is no match for our natural defenses.

When a UTI is present, cranberries offer an aggressive and successful option for treatment. Cranberries contain a powerful and effective substance that prevents E. coli from adhering to the urinary tract lining and the lining of the bladder. Often, however, a person will self-medicate through the use of cranberry juice cocktail. This route is generally unsuccessful because cranberry juice cocktail contains approximately 27% of actual cranberry juice. The remaining part is sweetened water. Drinking large amounts of cranberry juice cocktail contains too many calories, too much sugar and proves to be counterproductive. In addition, straight cranberry juice (with no sweeteners) is almost unpalatable because of the tartness. Most patients simply can’t get it down!

Recent research has isolated the bacteria-fighting compound in cranberries and found a way to put it in capsule form. In a dehydrated and capsule form, a dose is equivalent to 12 to 16 6-ounces glasses of cranberry juice. And it’s much easier to get past the taste buds!

Another remarkable ingredient used to treat UTIs is Uva Ursi-also known as bearberry. The leaves from this small shrub contain properties that act as an antimicrobial astringent, and disinfectant. As an astringent, Uva Ursi tightens membranes in the urinary tract and relieves pressure and irritation from inflammation. This brings relief from pain and discomfort to the UTI sufferer. A caution for you pregnant or nursing women, while cranberry is perfectly safe to take throughout pregnancy and nursing the Uva Ursi is a diuretic herb. While some sources recommend avoiding the supplement during this time, we personally believe that as long as you are actively staying hydrated it should not be a concern, but as always this is something that should be personally research and check with your health care provider first.

Additionally, grape seed extracts brings a powerful force to the scene of the infection. Grape seed is an antioxidant so it promotes healing. It also alleviates inflammation and is an excellent component to add to the treatment of UTIs. The Cranberry Power Cleanse is an impressive combination of natural ingredients that work together to eradicate the E. coli bacteria in the urinary system.

Beeyoutiful’s Cranberry Power Cleanse is indeed a powerhouse against the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. If you or others in your family have had a UTI or suffer chronically, you ought to consider stocking your medicinal shelves with Beeyoutiful’s Cranberry Power Cleanse.